Although written 5 years ago does this articlehave any bearing as to what is happening now with the company?
http://www.mutualofamerica.com/artic...01/fortune.asp

 

So, are they saying Harley is selling Lifestyles and the bike is just an accessory now? Well, that explains everything!

 

The article failed to mention that Malcolm Forbes and Elvis were spotted riding Harleyson anArizona desert highway lateone evening. That news and a buck will buy you a cup of hot coffee.

 

I think the article was an accurate analysis of Harley's position in the marketplace at the time, and much of what is said is still valid today. Harley is still making no serious inroads with the GenX, Gen Y, of Gen Whatever folks, who are more tuned into performance and price than image and tradition. It is indisputable that Harley's core demographic is aging and cannot be counted on to support the company's growth very much further into the future. It was interesting in the article that the H-D folks quoted seemed to recognize this even back then, but they seem to be still grappling with how to expand into those younger demographic groups. The V-Rod didn't, and isn't, doing it; Buell has had only a fractional impact, and the Sportster really isn't the answer either. Perhaps the new Buell 1125R will open some eyes in those younger generations (although Harley purists are whining about it and its water-cooled Rotax-made engine) and give the brass at Harley some new target to shoot at.

That the entire Harley marketing thrust is image- and lifestyle fantasy-based is also indisputable, and that has made them one of the most recognized brands on the planet. But that only takes you so far. Cadillac, once also a recognized luxury brand, missed the boat and outlived their core demographic, and has been stumbling ever since, becoming a wannabe BMW/Mercedes/Lexus manufacturer, saved only by the surprising acceptance of their Escalade. I'm sure this lesson is not lost on the big wheels at Harley-Davidson, and that they won't make the same mistake.

 

Typical financial mumbo jumbo from the white shirts that sit on financial boards...but it has a lot of merit as far as publicly traded companies go. The NYSE investors look for trends in key financial indicators like revenues and inventories and return on investment...how many die hard Harley owners even consider such? The Harley mystique hopefully will survive but it may be through the independant custom builders and an all out effort for Harley to identify the potential markets(plural!). I for one all but forgot motorcycling for 25 years and now I plan to buy a Street Glide next year but it will be when my main financial obligations are met. Twenty thousand dollars is out of reach for a lot of the young potential buyers and even though credit is still fairly easy to get, it will probably only be the "financially stable" that can own the big Harleys. I personally don't want anything else, although I've never ridden a Harley. Maybe there will be enough of us out there to keep the only real American motorcycle company alive and well but HD better start/keep looking for ways to develop. Maybe a "likkersikle" with the HD name...those things seem to be everywhere now...BORN TO RIDE YEEEEHEW!

 

Keep in mind the 20 and 25 year olds today in 10 to 15 years will be 35 and 40 and will have the same desires as we have. The company will survive and will continue to be at the top of the game. If you notice the other companies are trying to mimic what Harley has done in the last 10 years, wonder why.

 

I agree with deepwater, most of the people buying the sport bikes are younger. When they get older, they usually opt for a cruiser/touring style bike. The people that I see that have "Harley Knockoff" type cruisers simply cannot afford to buy a Harley at that point, but willeventually move up to a Harley when they can afford it. I don't think that this market will go away, it will just be different generationaging into it. That's what I hope anyway!!

 

I'm the oldest of Gen X, and I have to say, affording an HD is still a stretch. Most of us got married later, had kids later, all of which affects what we ride, or even what we ride. 40 year olds still have kids under 10, and may not be ready or able to do a lot of riding. Weekends are spent chasing sports, scouts, etc. Most of my riding is to work.

So I'm sure you're going to see a slowdown for a while, but not to worry, the Boomer's kids are coming, and they've got money.

 

Yeah, and then when us youngsters ask "How can we make our Harley faster?" Half of you tell us to go get another bike...

What we want are Harleys that look and sound the part, and can walk away from a sports bike. A stock Harley is not there yet, it may never be, but they world of the after market is growing.

When I bought my Dyna I knew I would not really be happy with it stock. I also have friend’s (other young-ones) who have Harleys that CAN walk away from most crotch-rockets. They have spend way too much money on them granted, but a Harley is cooler than a "burner" will ever be.

I think my generation's need for immediate gratification is hurting Harley too. I made the decision to buy the Harley knowing that it would probably be years before my stocker morphed into the hog that I really want it to be. And that's fine with me. On the other hand, I could have gone out and bought a plastic rocket... But the Harley is better.

I think the Harley guys to need a little shift in attitude though. Stop telling us how stupid we are for wanting a fast Harley, share your knowledge of how to sup them up, buy the parts yourselves to drive down prices. They can be fast. They can be everything the 20-somethings want.

I promise, any age, any demographic, 99% of anyone who is in the slightest way into bikes would think that my friend's 150hp/150tq Dyna is much cooler, much better, than any Hybusa, or plastic fantastic bike.

The problem is simply material: The Technology is there. We can make our Harleys that fast. The roadblock is cost, and an aging Harley base that thinks it's ridiculous that we would ever want to go fast on a Harley. If you all demanded it, Harley would do it, or the after market guys would make it cheap enough for us all to do it. There is no real material reason that a Harley engine cannot be coming out of the factory putting out 1hp/cubic inch... or that they should not be cheap enough to mod it that way for a reasonable price. Hell, just selling the damn things tuned correctly might help!

If all Harley can be about is taking the slow back road for aging baby-boomers then I think the company will tank.

Give us a fast Harley or make it easy for us to make them fast, and 99% would rather have a Harley that can do an 11 second 1/4 mile than a plastic POS that can do it in 10. But right now it's over 13 stock, if the memory serves.

My $.02, if Harley would not have to eliminate the performance gap to capture younger riders, just diminish it. Like I said, what we (and by we I mean 17-30 somethings who have not bought into the plastic fantastic thing) really want is a Harley that performs in the same ball-park as the 650-1000cc rockets. Don't tell me it's impossible, I’ve seen it done by many. Harley needs to make it cheaper to do this, and the Harley culture needs to be supportive of this, rather than sticking its head in its a$$ and saying "I didn't want to do fast anyway". Like I said, my $.02.

 

I don't want to go fast. Gotta problem with that?
[align=left] [/align]